Can I Interest You in Some Ridged Scorelines?

In a recent post I wondered if the term “micro-edges” would become the buzz word of the future. Based upon a recently issued patent, Bridgestone Golf may be hoping that the next hot buzz word is “ridged scorelines.”

In this embodiment, the ridged portions 200 are formed to increase the amount of backspin on a struck ball. That is, as described above, the back spin amount on a struck ball typically increases or decreases nearly in proportion to the angle theta, but the formation of the ridged portions 200 makes it possible to obtain a sufficient amount of backspin even when the angle theta is relatively narrow.

A top 203 of the ridged portion 200 may be rounded off, as shown in FIG. 9A, so that the ridged portion 200 has a roughly triangular cross-section. Also, the top 203 may be shaped into a flat surface, as shown in FIG. 9B, so that the ridged portion 200 has a trapezoidal cross-section.

Judging from the following table it looks like they thought their way through the rules of conformity.